Although Shia LeBeouf has had a hard time since his initial rise to fame as a child star, he has rebounded beautifully through writing and starring in his heartbreaking, autobiographical 2019 film, “Honey Boy”. Stunningly directed by AlmaHar’el, “Honey Boy” is a horrifying look into LeBeouf’s past relationship with his abusive father, therapeutically played by LeBeouf himself. The film centers on Otis, a former child actor who has entered rehab and is re-living his past traumas, In real life, LeBeouf was instructed by his rehab therapist to re-live the most damaging events with his father, as she thought this caused his PTSD diagnosis. He wrote these in script form and ultimately, sent it to director, AlmaHar’el. AfterHar’elread the script, she felt that they had a story to tell together and it wasHar’el’spraise that gave LeBeouf the confidence to make the film. LeBeouf has an exceptional way of writing; the characters have such musicality of language, the word choice, the slang, the way characters talk to each other, it feels like a haunting melody and really entrenches the viewer in this unique father-son story. Underneath everything the characters say, there is a whole other conversation taking place about jealousy, competitiveness and manipulativeness and that is not only thanks to LeBeouf’s script, but also toHar’el’sdirecting. Further, Alex Somers’ evocative score and the breathtaking performances from NoahJupe, Lucas Hedges and Shia LeBeouf affordHar’el’sremarkable delivery of a unique visual style: neon lights, shadows and mise en scène. This is her first feature-length film, so this debut of her visionary skill is even more impressive.Har’elalso elicits achingly compassionate performances, tapping into the rawest of emotions. 14-year-old British actor, NoahJupe, delivers a gut-punch performance, remarkably playing the most complex character opposite the man it’s based on. Shia LeBeouf channels all the anger and pain of his childhood to give the best performance of his career. "Are you being sincere or mocking me?" asks a social worker. "Both," adult Otis answers. There is no such ambiguity about the tone of the film, which feels much like a milestone in LaBeouf's recovery process. "Honey Boy” is not just a form of self-therapy for LeBeouf but is a disarmingly real and honest description of toxic and dysfunctional show business parenting.
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